Six Pesticides Your Golf Course Should Keep Safe
- Popular golf course fungicides (fungus killers) include thiram and quintozene. Between 60 and 77% of golf courses use...
- Three common herbicides (weed killers) your golf course may use include turf herbicides 2, 4-D and mecoprop. Over 80% of...
- The most popular insecticide (bug killer) on golf courses is malathion, used at...
Should you use pesticides on your golf course?
And while pesticides are excellent at killing off targeted insects, unwanted plants, and fungus, when applied to golf course turf, pesticides will migrate to ponds, groundwater, and nearby streams and ditches.
What chemicals are used to maintain golf courses?
Benomyl, rotenone, paraquat and other toxic weed and insect killers are used routinely to maintain golf courses. Most courses have a certified pesticide applicator on staff to handle these chemicals.
Is there toxic fertilizer on your golf course?
The game of golf has long brought friends and families outside to spend time together. But behind the highly manicured, weed-free greens and fairways of golf courses often sit storage sheds filled with a toxic assortment of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides.
How do you protect golf courses from chemical exposure?
Golf courses themselves can use procedures that reduce chemical exposure to golfers. Courses should leave chemically treated portions of the course closed for a conservatively sufficient time, based upon what is known.
Are golf courses sprayed with pesticides?
The Pesticide Specialist explained that pesticides are used on golf courses and other recreational areas to maintain the health and appearance of the turf. James learned that most golf courses have highly trained golf course superintendents who manage the course, including turf management and pest control strategies.
Is it toxic to live on a golf course?
Toxic Fairways People living near a golf course may be affected by sprays and dusts blown from the golf course onto their property and into their homes. Finally, pesticides applied to the turf may run off into surface waters or leach down to groundwater, which can then expose people to contaminated drinking water.
Do golf courses use glyphosate?
Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup and related non-selective herbicide products. Roundup is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world, and, in my ex- perience, is applied on most U.S. golf courses.
Are golf courses full of chemicals?
Research suggests that some chemicals used on golf courses may raise risks of lymphomas and other health problems. One study, published in 1996 in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, specifically addressed this concern.
Is paraquat herbicide used on golf courses?
Paraquat, a chemical herbicide and effective weed killer, has been sold by Syngenta and Chevron since the 1960s and has been widely used on golf courses, recreational areas, such as parks, and extensively within the agricultural industry.
Do they use paraquat on golf courses?
As an effective weed killer, paraquat has historically been used by golf courses in groundskeeping. Today, however, paraquat use is banned on golf courses by the EPA. The powerful herbicide is classified as a “Restricted Use” chemical and applicators must be licensed.
How do golf courses keep grass green?
Golf courses use aerators to create small holes in their fairways, so water, air and nutrients can reach down to the grass roots. This helps the grass grow deeper roots and it also creates an opening to help it break through to the topsoil.
Are golf course ponds toxic?
Farms and golf courses use a variety of chemicals and pesticides that can kill fish and other aquatic animals if sprayed near or in water. Sometimes the chemicals -- even those properly applied -- can be flushed into a canal or pond as run-off during a torrential rainstorm.
How often are golf courses sprayed?
“We get into periods here where I will spray my tees and greens every seven to 10 days and the fairways every two weeks,” he says. “We usually spray three days out of seven, so combining chemicals to get more bang for the buck is a necessity.”
Why are golf courses bad for the environment?
Courses dump often unregulated fertilisers and pesticides on their greenways to keep the grass looking unnaturally green. The fertilisers run off into bodies of water, causing a state of nutrient over-enrichment called eutrophication which results in algal blooms that destroy ecosystems.
How do golf courses pollute?
The average golf course uses 312 gallons of water per day for maintenance of the grounds. As this water flows through the property, it can pick up contaminants such as petroleum, pesticides, and fertilizers.
Do golf courses use urea?
Urea is also the most inexpensive nitrogen source the turf manager can use. *Salt Index based on equal amount of Nitrogen supplied. Every golf course superintendent knows their course and its grasses better than anyone else.
Why do golf courses use pesticides?
The Pesticide Specialist explained that pesticides are used on golf courses and other recreational areas to maintain the health and appearance of the turf. James learned that most golf courses have highly trained golf course superintendents who manage the course, including turf management and pest control strategies.
How do golfers get exposed to pesticides?
The most likely way for golfers to be exposed is through direct skin contact with the turf, such as on bare hands, arms, and lower legs.
What is the National Pesticide Information Center?
James decided to call the National Pesticide Information Center for more information about pesticide use on golf courses.
Who could contact the superintendent of a golf course?
The Pesticide Specialist also said that James could contact the golf course superintendent to find out what pesticides are typically applied to the course. He could also learn about practices they may use to help reduce pesticide exposure:
What is in the sheds of golf courses?
But behind the highly manicured, weed-free greens and fairways of golf courses often sit storage sheds filled with a toxic assortment of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides.
Is it easy to maintain an organic golf course?
This work is not easy. While the methods used to maintain an organic golf course are similar to those used to maintain an organic lawn, the high expectations placed on golf courses require significant time, attention, and willingness to experiment. Soil health must be prioritized.
Do golf course superintendents work with environmental experts?
Increasingly, golf course superintendents are making this connection, and working with environmental experts and local residents to improve the public health and ecological footprint of their greens and fairways. This work is not easy. While the methods used to maintain an organic golf course are similar to those used to maintain an organic lawn, ...
Can you chew on grass while playing golf?
First, golfers should avoid chewing on strands of grass or on tees that have been in the turf. Golfers should also avoid placing cigars or cigarettes on the ground while playing a shot. Golf courses themselves can use procedures that reduce chemical exposure to golfers.
Do golfers have dislodgeable residues?
Although carefully conducted studies have measured dislodgeable residues during some golfing activities, little data exists on the frequency with which golfers actually engage in activities that increase their level of chemical contact during a round.
Is golf course chemical harmful?
Understanding golf course chemicals. Most all publicity related to chemicals and their use on golf courses is negative in nature. Golf course chemicals are seen as destructive to people, animals and plants.
Is it safe to use pesticides on golf course turf?
According to the research team, in general, when used according to the label directions, chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers approved for use on golf course turf are not believed to pose a real health risk to either the workers who apply the chemicals or to others who may come into contact with them after application, including golfers.
Do golfers have pesticides?
There is also a lack of data regarding the variability of these behaviors among golfers. Perhaps more importantly, there are few systematic studies of all of the potential golfer behaviors that would increase pesticide exposure during a round of golf.
Mitigation
Scientists at the University of Minnesota investigate how superintendents play a key role.
Human Exposure
University of Massachusetts scientists investigate exposure to commonly used pesticides.
Wildlife Exposure
Scientists track the success of eastern bluebirds on pesticide-treated golf courses.
Multimedia
Superintendents strive to maintain healthy turf, but a lot of factors can stress playing surfaces. Whether the stress factors are easy to diagnose or more challenging, superintendents leverage their knowledge and experience to make environmentally and economically sustainable decisions.
What pesticides are used to maintain golf courses?
It doesn’t get that way on its own. Benomyl, rotenone, paraquat and other toxic weed and insect killers are used routinely to maintain golf courses. Most courses have a certified pesticide applicator on staff to handle these chemicals.
How many times does a golf course use pesticides?
Golf courses use four to seven times the amount of pesticides per acre that agricultural growers use. Golfers are exposed to these toxins mainly through direct skin contact with turf, usually on the ankles, legs, hands and arms.
What is the name of the drug that inhibits the function of mitochondria in our cells?
Rotenone. Rotenone inhibits the function of energy-producing mitochondria in our cells. Sold under names such as Chem-Fish, Cuberol and Rotacide, it is used in home gardens to control insects, as well as for lice and tick control on pets. Rotenone is lipophilic, meaning it collects in fat.
How to protect yourself from pesticides?
Other ways to protect yourself from pesticides: 1 Buy organic and locally grown fruits and vegetables. Knowing where your produce came from will help you know what it’s been exposed to. 2 Wash fruits and vegetables before eating. Use a diluted solution of water and dish soap and a scrub brush. Click here are more tips on washing produce. 3 Know which fruits and vegetables are more likely to be contaminated. Refer to EWG’s Dirty Dozen 4 Have a ‘no-shoes’ policy in your home to minimize the amount of toxins brought in on shoes that have walked through treated grass. 5 Throw away the outer layers of leafy vegetables. This may seem wasteful, but you’re getting rid of a lot of pesticide exposure by doing this. 6 Consider cleansing your system periodically. The right herbs and supplements will go a long way to removing accumulated toxins from your body.
What is the chemical used to protect crops from fungus?
Therefore, it’s best to just avoid them. Benomyl. Known commercially as Agrocit or Fundazol , this chemical is used to protect many crops from fungus, including fruits, mushrooms, ornamental shrubs and grass.
Is paraquat a poisonous herbicide?
Glyphosate and Paraquat: poisonous partners. Paraquat is the most highly acutely toxic herbicide to be marketed over the last 60 years. Yet it is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world. Paraquat is banned in the European Union but used in the United States as a weed killer.
Local Findings
Key Data 2019
- Total pesticide use (kg) decreased by 1% versus 2018 to 1,968 kg/yr. This maintains the 10% increase versus 2017;
- Fungicides are consistently the largest type of pesticide used – 89% by kg applied;
- The top five pesticides (by active ingredient (“a.i.”)) represent about 85% of all usage; and
- Private golf courses apply 78% of all pesticide by weight (kg)
Major Regulatory Changes in Ontario
- Health Canada carefully regulates pesticide use in Canada through a program of pre-market scientific assessment, enforcement, education, and information dissemination. This is accomplished via the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) under the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA) and Regulations. Until the PMRA approves a pesticide, it cannot be sold, imported, or used in Canada. The federal programs remain uncha…
Challenges with Regulation, Reporting, and Testing
- The Watershed Trust is concerned about the potential of pesticide impact to area streams that flow from the Blue Mountains Watershed into Georgian Bay. Although our area golf courses follow all regulatory requirements – ie. they report what they use and how much in a calendar year – the timeliness of the information makes it virtually impossible to protect aquatic life and invertebrates. The federal and provincial water quality regulations – the Ca…
The Watershed Trust’s Role
- Since 2008, the Watershed Trust has been regularly conducting sampling of water runoff from area golf courses and documenting our findings. We have contacted Environment Canada as well as the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks to voice our concerns and to present our key recommendations. We continue to communicate with federal and provincial authorities with the intention of improving the legislative fr…
You Can Help
- You can help the Trust in its efforts by becoming a member or by making a tax-deductible donation. If you are a golfer, talk to your Golf Course Superintendent about their pesticide use encourage them to take up more sustainable and best practice turf management practices. The golf course must provide, upon request, the prior year’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) mandated Annual Report – Class 9 Pesticide Use.